PMO minister says CAG may be expanded, kicks up row

Narayanasamy, who also holds charge of the personnel ministry, later said he was misquoted by the PTI who reported that he said the govt was considering making the CAG a multi-member body.

NEW DELHI: The UPA was caught in a fresh controversy over the comptroller & auditor general (CAG) after V Narayanasamy, minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office, was quoted as saying that the government was "actively considering" converting the federal auditor's office into a multi-member body.

"It (VK Shunglu panel's suggestion to make changes in CAG) is under active consideration. The government is actively considering it," news agency PTI quoted the minister as saying. The committee under former CAG Shunglu, tasked to look into the Commonwealth Games fiasco, had suggested that the CAG be turned into a three-member body for greater transparency.

The minister — who told the news agency that the CAG had become "more impatient" and was making remarks that were "unwarranted and unnecessary" — was forced to backtrack after strong criticism from political parties such as BJP for what they claimed was an attempt to weaken the auditor's office.

Narayanasamy, who also holds charge of the personnel ministry, later said he was misquoted by the news agency. But PTI stood its ground and released the transcript of the interview, which was not questioned by the minister.

The statement came days after CAG Vinod Rai told industry leaders at the World Economic Forum that "the brazenness (with which) decisions were being taken is actually appalling", while urging citizens to act against corruption and not wait for the government to initiate steps.

At the event, he also suggested that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the proposed Lokpal should be made constitutional entities to shield them from government interference.

His statement at the WEF was immediately attacked by Congress leaders with information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari saying that Rai, a former IAS officer, was also part of the government. A day later, Digvijay Singh joined in, asking the auditor to prevent leaks from his office.

Narayanasamy's remarks on Sunday are seen to be part of the response to the CAG who has acquired a reputation of causing embarrassment to the government through a series of reports such as the ones on 2G spectrum, Commonwealth Games, Coalgate and award of oil blocks and contracts to run airports and power plants.

Nearly two decades ago, faced with a marauding TN Seshan in Nirvachan Sadan, the government had turned the Election Commission into a three-member body. Since then, the government has followed a practice of appointing a chief election commissioner and two election commissioners. Similarly, the CVC now has a chief vigilance commissioner along with two deputies.

Terming the move to make the CAG into a multi-member body, BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said the proposal was a "very bad idea" and also "unconstitutional". He said there was a need to make a distinction between the Election Commission and CAG, as the auditor could not be treated like a commission.